Signaling apparatus



June 12, 1934. D 1,962,652

SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1929 N IN 'V EN TOR.

9% ATTORNEY,

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 12, 1934. D 1,962,652

SIGNALING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1929 Sel -0L 1' Solenozd pr fl le l j) INVENTOR.

BY 2/ ATTORNEYS/Q 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 12 1934 Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SIGNALING APPARATUS Addie Good, Hicksville, Ohio Application March 5, 1929, Serial No. 344,136

4 Claims. (01. 177-327) This invention relates to improvements in The inner end of the lazy tong 8 has oppositely signaling apparatus, especially for automobiles. projecting trunnions 11 that extend through the The object of the invention is to provide an corresponding sides of a housing 12, and said appliance to simulate the signals ordinarily made lazytong has a transversely disposed pin 13,

" by the hand of the driver of a vehicle, and the ends of which project into and have sliding 60 which is operated electrically and controlled by movement in slots 14 made in the corresponding a simple switching means. sides of said housing. The lazytong is sustained This object is accomplished by the construcby said trunnions and pin in said housing so tion illustrated in the accompanying drawings, that limited longitudinal movement of the lazyin which: tong relative to the housing is permitted, said 5 I Fig. 1 is an elevation of part of a construction slots 14 serving as guides for the pin 13. embodying the invention, a portion being in sec- Upon the rear end of the housing is mounted tion, the signal member being in its extreme a pneumatic member consisting of a cylinder 15 extended position; having a plunger 16 therein, said plunger having Fig. 2 is a similar view with the signal member a rod 17 provided with a hook 13 that is con- 79 in an intermediate position, and including the nected with said transverse pin 13, so that when control members; said plunger is reciprocated in the cylinder, said Fig. 3 is another view of the appliance showing lazytong is extended or contracted accordingly. the signal member in another of its positions, Upon the exterior of the housing 12 is 'and also with the signal member dotted in its mounted a valve-case 19 having valves 20 and normal position; 21 disposed therein that are oppositely operated Fig. 4 is a bottom plan View of the housing of b a T-shaped lever 22 which is pi otall the appliance; mounted in connection with said valve-case.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the control The valve-case has communication with a tube members for the signal extending device; 23 that is connected with a suitable source of Fi 6 i a fragmentary View Of the pp nce vacuum (not shown) such as the intake manishowin t e S p and the Signal eXtending fold of an automobile engine, and the valves 20 device related therewith; and 21 are operatively related with the rear Fig. 7 is an end View p je d o F 6; and forward ends of the cylinder15 respectively 30 Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the related memand the tube 23 whereby said plunger is caused bers of the Sig appliance and the c ca to move in one direction or the other accordingly connections therefor; and as said valves are actuated. The forward end F 9 is a detail View drawn p a enlarged of the cylinder 15 is related with the valve 21 scale showing a cross-Sect on 0 t upp t through a connection 24, and the rear end of 35 arm for the signal member. said cylinder is related with the valve 20,

The invention consists of a signal member 1 through n ti 25 2 By operafign preferably in the form of a human hand of said valves vacuum is applied selectively to structed of translucent material such as celluloid the corresponding ends of i cylinder so t t glass, and in which member is mounted m m saidlazy tong is thereby projected outwardly or 40 suitable manner an electric lamp 2 by which said. contracted member is lnummated' l The pin 10 in the lazytong has limited slid- The Signal member 1 has a plvot 3 Supported ing movement in the slotted head 9 of the m a bearing 4 that is fixed on a tubular arm 5, racbbar 7 so that the lazytdng is projected and said pivot 3 has fixed thereon a pinion 6 45 g which has engagement with a racbbar located outwardly to the position shown in F1g. 3 With- Within the tubular arm 5 in which it is 10ngi out causing relative movement between said tudinally movable and whereby rotary movement Tack-bar f the Wbular arm However, the is imparted to the signal member through t slot 9 in said head is so proportioned that when medium of said pinion. the lazytong is moved to the extent shown in 59 The tubular arm 5 is supported upon the outer Fig. 2, the rack-bar 7 is moved in the arm 5 end of a lazy tong 8, and the rear end of said so that the signal member 1 is turned to a rack-bar has a slotted head 9, through a slot of corresponding extent, and when the lazytong is which extends the pin 10 that forms a pivot moved to the extent shown in Fig. 1, said signal for the lazytong at a point spaced from the member 1 is turned to a further extent. Also,

5 Outer end thereof, when the lazytong is completely contracted said no signal member is returned to its initial position as indicated by dotted line in Fig. 3.

Upon the housing 12 is mounted a solenoid 27 having a plunger 28 that is operatively related with the lever 22 through the medium of an arm 29, whereby when the solenoid is energized the plunger is raised and said lever is tilted and the valves 20 and 21 actuated accordingly. In this manner vacuum is applied through the connection 24 to the front end of the cylinder 15, and the rear end of said cylinder is vented through the connection 25, and thus the plunger 16 is moved to its forward position and the.

lazytong is extended thereby. When the supply of current is turned off from the solenoid 27, the plunger 28 and the valves 19 and 21 related therewith return to their normal positions. Thus vacuum is applied to the rear end of the cylinder 15 through the connection 25 and the forward end of said cylinder is vented through the connection 24 so that the plunger 16 is moved rearwardly causing contraction of the lazytong. The valve-case and the valves therein may be of any suitable construction such as are in common use for the similar purpose of actuating the plunger, and are not shown in detail as their particular form is immaterial to the present invention.

As a means to limit the extension of the lazytong at different stages two stops 30 and 31 are disposed in a guide 32 on the exterior of the housing beneath the slot 14 and disposed so as to have engagement, when elevated, with the adjacent end of the pin 13 on the lazytong, and thus interrupt the forward sliding movement thereof in said slot. The stop 30 is operatively related with the plunger 33 of a solenoid 34 mounted on said housing so that when said solenoid is energized the stop 30 is elevated, there being an arm 35 connecting said plunger 33 and stop 30. The stop 31 is operatively related with a plunger 35 of a solenoid 36 mounted on said housing so that when said solenoid is energized the stop 31 is elevated, there being an arm 37 connecting said plunger 35 and stop 31.

The lamp 2 in the signal member 1 is supplied with current through a conductor 38, preferably having connected in line therewith a resistance member 38 with which conductor the solenoid 27 is in circuit, said conductor being controlled by a switch 39, the conductor 38 is supported by the lazytong 8 at various points thereon so as to fold within the housing 12 when the lazytong is contracted. The solenoid 34 is supplied with current through a conductor 40 controlled by a switch 41, the solenoid 34 being connected in the circuit with the solenoid 27 and lamp 2. The solenoid 36 is energized through a conductor 42 controlled by a switch 43, said solenoid 36 being connected in circuit with the solenoid 2'7 and lamp 2. The conductors 38, 40 and 42 have connection with one of the terminals of a battery 44 from which current therefor is supplied, the other terminal of said battery being grounded as indicated by 45. Also, one terminal of the lamp 2 is grounded as indicated by 46.

The switches 39, 41 and 43 may be of any suitable type, and the electrical connections for controlling the solenoids and the lamp may be arranged in any suitable manner to effect proper operation of the apparatus, the diagram being shown as an example.

In utilizing the invention, the housing is mounted upon the body of a vehicle, by means of brackets 47 attached thereto, in such position that when the lazytong is extended, the signal member will be exposed to view from the rear and the front of the vehicle, and the switches are positioned in the vehicle conveniently accessible to the driver. When a left hand turn is contemplated the driver closes the switch 41 causing the solenoids 34 and 27 and the lamp 2 to be energized, whereupon the stop 30 is raised to engaging position and the valve 21 is opened so that the plunger is drawn forwardly and the lazytong is extended to the position limited by said stop as indicated in Fig. 3. When a right hand turn is contemplated, the driver closes the switch 39 causing the solenoid 27 and the lamp 2 to be energized, whereupon the valve 21 is opened so that the plunger is drawn forwardly and the lazytong is extended to its outermost position as indicated in Fig. 1, its outward movement being limited by the pin 13 upon reaching the end of the slot 14. The rack-bar 7 being withheld by engagement with the pin 10 while the tubular arm is projected farther, causes rotation of the pinion 6 and consequent turning of the hand. When a stop or material reduction in speed is contemplated, the switch 43 is closed by the driver, causing the solenoids 36 and 27 and the lamp 2 to be energized, whereupon the stop 31 is raised to engaging position and the lazytong is extended to a position limited by contact of the pin 13 with said stop as indicated in Figs. 2 and 6. In each instance, upon opening of the switch the current through the solenoid 27 and lamp 2 ceases, whereupon the plunger 28 of said solenoid 27 gravitates to its normal position and actuates the lever 22 so that the valve 20 is opened and the plunger is drawn to the rear end of the cylinder causing the lazytong to fold within the housing and the hand to be turned to the position shown in dotted outline in Fig. 3.

The signal member is illuminated by the lamp when moved to extended position and thus indicates that the signal is active. The position of the hand which constitutes the signal member, when the fingers are pointed downwardly, as in Fig. 3, is significant of the intention of the driver to make a left hand turn. The hand, when extended horizontally, as in Fig. 2, is significant of the drivers intention to stop or materially reduce the rate of travel. The hand when positioned with the fingers extending upwardly, signifies the intention of the driver to make a right hand turn.

What I claim is:-

1. A signal apparatus for an automobile consisting of an arm; a mechanism for supporting and imparting longitudinal movement to said arm; stops for limiting said movement of said mechanism at different stages thereof; a signal member provided with a pinion pivotally sup ported in said arm; a rack-bar in mesh with said pinion, an operative connection between said arm and rack-bar to cause relative movement therebetween when the arm is actuated, whereby said member is turned upon its axis to different positions during corresponding positions of said movement; and means for actuating said mechanism and stops. v

2. A signal apparatus for an automobile consisting of an arm, a mechanism supporting and imparting longitudinal movement to said arm, stops for limiting movement of said arm, a signal member provided with a pinion pivotally supported in said arm, a rack-bar in mesh with said pinion, an operative connection between said arm and rack-bar to cause relative movement therebetween when the arm is actuated, whereby turning movement is imparted to the signal member upon its axis to difierent signaling positions as the arm is extended, actuating means for said arm, and electrical means for selectively controlling said stops.

3. A signal apparatus for an automobile consisting of a lazytong, an arm supported at the outer end of said lazytong, stops for limiting movement of said lazytong at different stages of its movement, a signal member provided With a pinion pivotally supported in said arm, a rackbar in mesh with said pinion, an operative connection between said lazy-tong and rack-bar to cause relative movement therebetween when the lazy-tong is actuated, for imparting relative movement thereto whereby the member is turned upon its axis to difierent signaling positions, actuating means for said mechanism, and electrical means controlling said stops.

4. A signal apparatus for an automobile consisting of a lazytong, an arm extending from the outer end of said lazytong, stops for limiting movement of said lazytong at different stages thereof, a signal member pivoted on said arm, actuating means for said member adapted to turn it upon its axis to different signaling positions as the arm is moved to difierent stages, and actuating means for said lazytong and stops.

ADDIE GOOD. 

